Elizabeth Oropesa

Elizabeth Oropesa Freeman or simply called her La Oropesa is a multi-awarded actress in the Philippines. She was a Grand Slam Best Actress winner in Bulaklak Ng Maynila (1999). She is Bicolana beauty, former Miss Luzon, and now a healer known as Dr. Elizabeth O. Freeman. Her father was a Native American. --- Oropesa was launched to stardom in Mister Mo, Lover Boy Ko (1975), produced by Jesse Ejercito and directed by Ishmael Bernal. She won the FAMAS Best Actress award for Lumapit, Lumayo Ang Umaga (1975), also directed by Bernal. Again, Bernal directed Oropesa in Nunal Sa Tubig (1976), one of the best films of the '70s. Oropesa is one of the favorites of director Ishmael Bernal, who directed her in classic movies. It was in 1976 when Gloria Diaz and Oropesa popularized "wet look" in the movie Ang Pinakamagandang Hayop Sa Balat Ng Lupa. She received also Best Supporting Actress trophies for Milagros (1997) and Sa Pusod Ng Dagat (1998), both directed by Marilou Diaz-Abaya and a Best Actress grandslam, five best actress trophies for Bulaklak Ng Maynila (1999), directed by Joel Lamangan. She did Mister Mo, Lover Ko (1999) comedy film directed again by Joel Lamangan, starring Glydel Mercado, Eddie Gutierrez, Gary Estrada and Danny Ramos. In 2003, she made a movie Homecoming, an entry to the Metro Manila Film Festival, directed by Gil Portes, with Alessandra de Rossi, playing mother and daughter caught in a heart-wrenching homecoming. She played the mother of Jennica Garcia and stepmother of Jolina Magdangal in GMA's Adik Sa 'Yo (TV series) (2009) with Marvin Agustin, Dennis Trillo and Joey Marquez, directed by Joel Lamangan. She starred in a digital movie Ded Na Si Lolo (2009), about a family staying together and getting stronger amid personal differences and hardships, starring Roderick Paulate, Gina Alajar and Manilyn Reynes. Oropesa makes strong comeback as grandmother in TV drama, Angelito: Batang Ama aired in ABS-CBN. She appeared in more than 150 movies and television shows since 1973. --- When she was already a movie actress, she was romantically linked to drama actor Dante Rivero before she met Meng Fei (Chinese martial arts movie actor based in Taipei) and lived with him for several years. They separated and Oropesa lived in with a certain Raymond Ablan. After they also separated, she reconciled with Meng, with whom she has a son and she stayed in Taipei for a few years. After Oropesa and Meng parted ways again, she made a movie comeback in 1993 and became involved with younger men, including Ginoong Pilipinas title holder and now bold actor Danny Ramos. She was also married to a certain Mark Roces, with whom she has a daughter, Genevieve. Oropesa married to Joel Valdez, (23-year-old fitness gym instructor when she met in Makati City), a Physical Therapist, in a civil wedding at Gala beach resort in Eastern Samar last November 8, 2002. She studied Physiology and Anatomy, Traditional and Chinese Medicine Advance among others at University of the East.